Bridgnorth hotel gutted by blaze sells for £490,000 at auction
A hotel gutted by a fire has been sold at auction for nearly half a million pounds.
The Mill Hotel in Alveley, near Bridgnorth, was sold for £490,000 through Cottons auctioneers - nearly double its original guide price.
The former hotel, which sits within 7.9 acres of land on the A442 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster road, was completely destroyed by arsonists in May.
The Mill, which was a popular wedding venue, closed unexpectedly last September as a result of the financial problems of its owner, Elysian Care, leaving brides-to-be struggling to find alternatives venues to get married.
Cottons said the new owners had exchanged contracts but would not officially complete on the deal before the middle of August.
Graham Hurry, clerk of Alveley Parish Council, said it was hoped a new hotel would be built on the same land following Tuesday's successful auction.
He said: "We believe the community would be very pleased if it was turned back into a hotel.
"If it came back like the Mill restored, along with a restaurant, it would be a very happy outcome for everyone.
"Any new hotel would of course need planning permission but the council would be very interested to see what the future plans are.
"When the hotel first closed people were very disappointed because it was a much loved facility.
"A lot of people had very happy and fond memories of the place.
"When I first moved into the area 35 years ago the first place I took my wife to eat was The Mill, so I too had very happy memories of it.
"When it was destroyed by the fire it brought even more hurt because then everyone knew that really was the end.
"But it appears the new owners will be looking to bring it back as a new hotel."
Mr Hurry said early indications were the plans could be up and running by the end of 2017 but everything was still in the very early stages.
"We've also been told the owners want to work with Shropshire Council and the community to move the project forward," he said.
"There will be a fair degree of interest with what happens next and the parish council will eagerly await any future plans."
Responsibility for The Mill was handed over to Shropshire Council for safety reasons while the sale was made on behalf of the property's receivers.
Receivers employed contractors to demolish parts of the building, which are still considered unsafe and to prevent intruders from breaking in.
The building dated back to the 16th century and was once a working flour mill.
